DNO, your only source for news that is iit- Independent. Immediate. Trusted • Up to $15,000 in cash and prizes to give away this summer in Digicel red hot summer promo. 10 lucky customers every week to win BIG prizes. Also ask about our red hot deals. Digicel......be extrodinary

PM, Opposition leader to consult on new President

Dominica News Online - Tuesday, August 14th, 2012 at 2:19 PM

Dominica’s current president Dr. Nicholas Liverpool

Consultation to select a new Head of State for Dominica gets underway on Wednesday.

Dominica News Online has been reliably informed that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is expected to meet with opposition leader Hector John to begin the process of selecting a new president.

The Constitution of Dominica states, “whenever the office of the President is vacant or the term of office of the president is due to expire within not more than 90 days, the Prime Minister shall consult with the Leader of the opposition as to their nomination of a suitable candidate for election as President”.

Reports indicate that opposition leader Hector John was handed an invitation last week, one week prior to the consultation.

While there is no official word yet on the choice for the new president, reports suggest that retired public servant Eluid Williams is next in line for the position.

The island’s current president, Dr. Nicholas Liverpool, is due to end his second term as Head of State next year, but there are indications that he might leave earlier because of ill health.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of
DominicaNewsOnline.com/Duravision Inc. All comments are approved by DominicaNewsOnline.com
before they are posted. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view,
but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

violate or infringe the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or include personal attacks

are abusive, profane or offensive

contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law

promote hatred of any kind

refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty

It does not matter to me who emerge as president; I only want to see due process in keeping with the spirit of the constitution. Lets stop the bickering about justifying telephone talk over such a serious matter. Lets see the PM and the opposition leader seat to discuss the issue and let the cips fall where they may.

Maybe that’s the problem. Children are not taught properly anymore. Pupils entering secondary education, who are deficient in the skills of basic reading, writing and arithmetic . Don’t even mention grammar! A education system that has been dumbed down to the lowest common denominator, all for the sake of socio-political dogma. What is wrong with the pursuit of excellence, of nurturing talent and competition? The route we have embarked on only leads to mediocracy. Wake up Dominicans, demand the best for your children and their future.

This office is rediculous,obsolete and disfuntional,I say this because,the Prime minister can fire the President,so can the President fire the Prime minister,since a vast number of citizens disapprove of that office I say lets hold a referandum to determin the acceptance of that costly and ineffective office

this president could behe father,grandfather or greatgrandfather of this young prime minster and better still he claim to be a lawyer…….couldn’t he have guided this pm properly in conducting the affairs of this country? if he trully says that he love skerrit; God what was this my man objective as president of Dominica? God you who knows all things, sees all things, understands all things, hears all things will bring justice to light

Let’s see if the Hon. Leader of the Opposition shows up. I won’t be surprised if his handlers advice not to go and he send a note saying he cannot make it; let’s move it to such and such a date. I almost expect that to be the outcome. Mark my words ….

While we may have different opinions on the nominee for President and who should or should be President I think we have to be open to the facts. I want endorse The nomination of Mr. Eluid Williams for the Position of Head of State. Mr. Williams known during his tenure as Permanent Secretary is known as the hardest working PS and was always given the Ministry with the most work and always did what had to be done without fare or favour and without any political bias. Mr. Williams helped to develop the revolution of the telecom sector at its teething stages among allot of other things done by this positive Dominican. Good choice and Hon. John I honestly think we can approve that choice of the PM for balance and hard work in that office.

I would go for someone who has a good reputation and who is well known internationally. It is no need we go for anyone even a lawyer who is corrupt and who the people hold in low esteem and so it would be a breath of fresh air if Billy Doctrove, Goodwill Ambassador is nominated as the next President. I think he would be an excellent choice and one that is a above board,impeccable reputation and a Gentleman who is well respected locally, Regionally and Internationally

what is the use of a president anyway? Just to throw away a monthly ten thousand dollar check of tax payers money in the hands of an individual whom has no real use and whom the prime minister can dismiss anytime he feels like? Does this make any sense?

I support the suggestion of Bernard Wiltshire.
He is quite able and capable.
Let us stop being petty and give jack his jacket.
If we do not need a president please do away with that position. Too much of the country’s money is being given to people doing nothing for the country.
If we do need one let us do what is best for the country.
I also support the choice of Brian Alleyne.

Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 61hhmmAugust 15, 2012

my choices for president are:

Gravity

Yellow

Zang

Like or Dislike: 00somebodyAugust 15, 2012

What about Mr.Joey Peltier very honest man. Founder of SPAT and a well educated economist and former director of Agriculture.

In the election of a new President, the Prime Minister MUST consult with the Leader of the Opposition. In other words the Prime Minister has no choice.

You see unlike section 92 of the constitution with covers the appointment of a Police Chief, section 19 uses the phrase “SHALL CONSULT” in respect to the election of the President.

Now if the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition does not agree on a single candidate, the Leader of the Opposition may nominate his own candidate. In this case parliament would have to vote on the two candidates. And this is not unprecedented as we have had parliament vote on a President in the past.

Like Eugenia once said to a reporter;”you are too smart for your own good” does the quote below from the constitution suggest that skerritt can do as he pleases when appointing someone to be or act as chief of police? I think not! so stop being a jack in a box
“shall vest in the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, given after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition and the Police Service Commission.”

DNO, could we get some more details as to what is going to be the nature of this consultation, is the Hon. leader of the opposition going to suggest somebody or is the Prime minister suggesting someone to the leader of the opposition and asking him to agree. Dominica needs a constitutional amendment for us to elect the president not to have a ceremonial head of state who cant express a view contary to that of the Government, that is what is expected of modern Democracy espically in the caribbean where the politics demands that the people must have their way at all times. The time is now let Dominica be the first and may i suggest to the Hon Leader of the Opposition that he request that of the Prime Minister, The way this curent President operating is way below the expectations of the Dominican people, never have i seen such a politicall bias guy

I honestly don’t see the need for us to contiue to pay the salary of another president. To me, Mr. Liverpool has so badly represented the office of the president that I feel we can do without one. I think the time has come for us to amend our constitution and do away with that politician elected office because Mr. Liverpool’s tenure confirms that they don’t serve the people of Dominica, but instead, reward the party that elected them as was clearly the case in Mr. Liverpool. My asvise is if we really need a president, either we the people should vote for one based on all major parties nominating a canditate and we the people vote for one of our choice. Otherwise, Mr Liverpool taught us that it is indeed a political office and upholding our constitution, if we still have one, is not a necessity.

I agree with you on one point. As a nation we should amend our constitution to allow the president to be directly by the people.He/she must be given certain powers as head of state and there must be certain other rules which must govern his office.The president must be elected for a six(6) year term in a general election.

“Reports indicate that opposition leader Hector John was handed an invitation last week, one week prior to the consultation.”

This is much better than an overnight phone call. You see, sometimes discussions are healthy and not everytime that someone criticize something that it is meant for bad. Sometimes it is meant to teach us better. Way to Go PM!!!!